Sign-applying tool.



E. KREHEH.

SIGN APPLYING T001..

. I APPLICATION FlLED JAN. 6. |916. LQQQAW., Patented Apr. 10,1917.

2 SHEETS--SHEET l.

W1 TNESSES;

E. KREHER. SIGN APPLYING TooL.

A APPLICATION FILED IAN. 6, 19|6. ll, Patend Apr. 10,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES.-

.. nam-Irma., wAsnmcroN. D. c

l@ PATENT ERNEST KREHER, OF TAMA, FLORIDA.

SIGN-APPLYING TOOL.

Application filed January 6, 1916.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, EnNnsT Knnrrnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Tampa, in the county of Hillsborough and State of Florida,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sign-ApplyingTools, of which the following is a specication.

This invention has reference to an improved device for applying signs,or the like, high up on supports, such as telegraph poles, trees, or thelike, and has for an object to provide a simple, compact, and easilymanipulated device for quickly and accurately applying signs,particularly of the type disclosed in my co-pending application, filedof even date herewith, to the support by a person standing on theground.

The sign applying tool comprises means for holding a sign against asupport in line with the tool while a striking device movablelongitudinally of the tool is operated to deliver blows against the signto secure it to the support in an initial angular position with respectthereto. rlhe tool is also provided with means for then engaging thesign to bend the latter from the initial anglewof application into thedesired display angle with respect tothe support.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention, as well as theabove, will be more clearly brought out in the following description ofthe present preferred 4embodiment of this invention, the same beingdisclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved tool as applied to a signto hold the latter in position for hammering or driving the sign into asupport.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, disclosing the sign secured to the support,and the tool apljusted upon the sign for bending the latter upwardlyinto the desired permanent position, the dotted lines disclosing thesign in the permanent position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the sign engaging end of thetool applied to the sign to hold it.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, disclosing the application of the tool to thesign for adjusting the latter.

Fig. 5 is an edge view of the tool collapsed.

Fig. 6 is a. side elevation of the tool partly in section, and showingthe parts slightly Specification'of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. itl, 1217.

Serial No. 70,688.

opened, and showing in dotted lines the tool fully collapsed and securedfrom accidentally opening. 1

Referring to the drawings there is shown a tubular pole 10 of sufficientlength to enable an operator standing on the ground to place a sign highup on a pole or tree. The tube 10 is open throughout its entire lengthand contains a hammer rod 11 of a length to entend substantially thefull length of the tube 10 and project from one end thereof where therod is formed into a handle 12. rEhe tube has near the end from whichthe handle end of the rod projects a socket opening 13 formed bynotching the opposite edges of a longitudinal entering slit 14. rlhetube where slit is suiiiciently elastic so that .the edges of the slitwill spread slightly to admit a pin 15 on the hammer rod 11 to enter theslit and temporarily lock in the socket notches 13.

rl`he end of the tube 10 remo-te from the handle 12 is open to receive aportion, such as an extension 17, of the sign, for a suiicient distanceto support the sign in longitudinal alinement with the tube and againsta tree or other support 18. At the end designed to receive the extension17 the tube 10 is provided with a lip 19 in line with one side of thetube. rlhe lip conforms to the contour of the tube and extends circum-Vferentially for not more than about one-half `17 may be forced upwardlyto bend the sign to a display position after being secured to the tree18 or other support in an inclined position.

The sign comprises a body 21 of flat or other suitable form secured byclips 22, upon a rod or arm 23, which latter is pointed at one end toprovide a piercing point or prong 24 joined to the rod 23 by a bendableconnection or joint 25. The other. end of the rod 23 projects beyond thebody 21 for a short distance, and this projection constitutes theextension 17 before referred to.

The sign applying tool may be used with signs of various constructionsor may be used for other purposes than securing signs to supports, butfor simplicity of description the operation will be set forth inconnection with the specific form of sign shown and described.

An operator standing on the ground places the extension 17 of the signin the outer end of the tube 10, thus supporting the sign in line withthe tube, and then the operator raises the tube with the signsufficiently to position the piercing point 24.- of the sign against thesupport 18 at a high point thereon desired, and this high point isgenerally above any signs 26 which may have been previously applied tothe support. Such signs are usually located close to the ground. 1ffound higher up the placing of them has probably necessitated the use ofa ladder or some other similar device.

Because the tool and rod 23 are in alinement, the sign is held againstthe support 18 in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 1. The operatorreciprocates the rod 11 and therefore delivers a series of blows on therod 23, thus driving the prong 211 into the support 18 with the rod 23inclined. The operator now draws the tube 10 from the extension 17suliiciently to permit the lower end of the tube 10 to swing downwardlytoward the support, so that the shoulder 2O will underride the free endportion of the extension 17, as shown in Figs. 2 and l of the drawings.During this operation the lip 19 serves as a guiding or holding devicefor retaining the eXtension 17 in engagement with the shoulder 20.

By lifting the tube, the rod or arm 23 of the sign is raised about thebendable portion 25 from the initial inclined position shown in Fig. 1to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and finally into theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, this last-named position beingthe final or display position, customarily, with the rod 23 horizontaland the body of the sign pendent therefrom. These movements arepermitted by the bendable connection 25, so that the rod or arm 23 wherecarrying the body 21 of the sign is in no wise bent or distorted.

To collapse the tool for transportation or storage, the rod 11 is movedinto the tube 10 until the handle 12 is close to the corresponding endof the tube 10 and the pin 15 enters the slit 111 and ultimately lodgesin the socket notches 13, thus locking the two parts of the tooltogether against accidental displacement.

Since the tool includes but two parts, namely, the tube, which may be ofordinary construction, and the rod, which may also be of ordinaryconstruction, the device can be economically and easily manufactured,and will withstand wear and hard usage. Furthermore, the device requiresno special skill in its operation. The device is also light in weightand occupies but relatively small space. It requires no adjustment andis always in position for the nent operation.

ln order to facilitate grasping of the tool while the hammer rod 11 isreciprocated, there is provided a handle 27 formed on a sleeve 28embracing the tube 10 and having an end 29 remote from the handle 27traversed by a bolt 30 to which there is applied a nut 31 provided witha manipulating handle 32. The handle 27 is readily adjusted along thetube 10 to diHerent convenient positions where it may be clamped by amanipulation of the nut 31.

When the tool is collapsed for transportation or storage, the handle 27is loosened from its operative, position upon the tube and is moved sothat the sleeve 28 is about the split end let of the tube where it isthen clamped and rigidly holds the rod 11 in the tube.

The extension 17 of the sign has a pin 33 extending transversely throughit, which pin may be a cotter pin, though not limited to such structure.rthis pin serves to hold the sign body 21 from slipping from the rod 23and also serves as an abutment or stop for the lip end of the tool.

The length of the tool when extended in operative position will dependupon the particular use to which it is to be put, since it may beemployed for other purposes than lodging signs on supports. Moreover,for convenience of transportation the tool could readily be made oftelescopic form, so as to admit of it being carried in a suit case.

The handle 27 projects from the sleeve 28 in a direction transversely ofthe tube 10 to an extent permitting ample hand room, and then the handleis continued lengthwise of the tube 10 to form a handhold with the freeend of the handle directed toward the tube 10. This provides a graspingmember which is particularly effective for holding a long tube 10 nearone end, with the other end carrying the sign with the piercing pointhigh up on the support. it also permits the holding of the tube 10 withone hand, while the other hand engages the handle 12 with the rod 11extending crosswise of the' body of the operator, and consequently along movement of the hammer rod 11 is permitted and powerful blows maybe delivered upon the extension 17 to drive the piercing point 24 lirmlyinto the support. This is especially of value where the support is atree or a pole which it is difiicult to pierce and consequently heavyblows are needed to perform the driving of the point 24 so deeply intothe tree or pole that the subsequent bending at the bending Zone 25 maybe accomplished without disturbing the initial position of the point 2-1in the support.

l/Vhat is claimed is r* 1. A tool for applying a sign provided with asupporting rod having a penetrating prong at one end, comprising a tubehaving one end adapted to receive that end of the supporting rod remotefrom the prong to hold the remainder of the rod in projected relation tothe tube with the prong high up against a support and with the tube andrcd in substantial alinement, said tube having at the rod receiving endan elongated lip in alinement with the tube and extendingcircumferentially of the tube where joining the latter for a fractionalportion of the circumference of the tube, and thereby providing anabrupt shoulder on and substantially radial of the rod receiving end ofthe tube and extending circumferentially of said tube and said lip andshoulder constituting an abutment and an engaging portion, respectively,for the supporting rod when the tube is at an angle to said rod, to bendthe latter by an upward thrust of the tube subsequent to driving thepenetrating prong into the support, and a hammer rod reciprocable in thetube for striking that end of the supporting rod lodged in the tubewhereby to drive the piercing point into the support, and said hammerrod having the end remote from the striking end projecting beyond the.corresponding end of the tube and there provided with a hand-hold.

2. A tool for applying a sign provided with a supporting rod having apenetrating prong at one end, comprising a tube having one end adaptedto receive that end of the supporting rod remote from the prong to holdthe sign high up against a support with the tube and supporting rod insubstantial alinement, a handle on the end of the tube remote from thatreceiving the supporting rod, said handle being adjustable lengthwise ofthe tube, and a hammer rod reciprocable in the tube and projectingbeyond the second-named end of the tube and there provided with ahandle, the eX- tent of adjustment of the handle lengthwise of the tubebeing sufficient to permit a wide separation of the hands of theoperater in holding the tool and reciprocating the handle. j

3. A tool for applying a sign provided with a supporting rod having apenetrating prong at one end thereof, comprising a tube having one endadapted to receive that end of the supporting rod remote from the prongwith the tube and rod in substantial alinement, a reciprocable hammerrod in the tube projecting from the end of the latter remote from thefirst-named end and there provided with a handle, the tube and rodhaving coacting means for temporarily holding the rod at the point offull inward movement into the tube, and a handle on the tube havingclamping means for binding the tube on to the rod to ixedly hold thehammer rod against Withdrawal from the tube.

4. A tool for applying a sign provided with a supporting rod having apenetra-ting prong at one end, comprising a tube having one end adaptedto receive that end of the supporting rod remote from the prong, areciprocable hammer rod within the tube for delivering blows to thesupporting rod, and a handle member on the tube having a grippingportion extending lengthwise of the tube.

5. A tool for applying a sign provided with a supporting rod having apenetrating prong at one end, comprising a tube having one end adaptedto receive that end of the supporting rod remote from the prong, areciprccable hammer rod within the tube for delivering blows to thesupporting rod, and a handle member on the tube having a grippingportion extending lengthwise of the tube, said handle member beingadjustable lengthwise of the tube and provided with means for clampingthe handle member to the tube in dierent positions of adjustment.

6. A tool for applying a sign provided with a supporting rod having apenetrating prong at one end, comprising a tube having one end adaptedto receive that end of the supporting rod remote from the prong, areciprocable hammer rod within the tube for delivering blows to thesupporting rod, and a handle member on the tube havingv a grippingportion extending lengthwise of the tube, said handle member beingadjustable lengthwise of the tube and provided with means for clampingthe handle member to the tube in different positions of adjustment, saidclamping means having manipulating means for the actuation of theclamping means by hand without the aid of tools.

7. A tool for applying a sign provided with a supporting rod having apenetrating prong at one end and an extension at the other end,comprising a tube for engagement over the extension and having a splitlower end with socket notches in the opposite edges of the splitthereof, a hammer rod slidable in the tube for engagement against theextension to drive the prong into a support, a laterally extending pinon the hammer rod for engagement in said socket notches to hold the rodcollapsed, and a handle having a compressible sleeve adjustably mountedon the tube, for engagement over the split end thereof to bind the pinin the socket, and adapted for adjustment upwardly on the tube toposition the handle for easy holding of the tool during use.

8. A sign applying tool comprising a tube for engagement at one end witha sign to hold it in position for application to a support, and a hammerrod mounted in the tube and projecting from the other end of the tubeand there provided with a handle for the manual reciprocation of the rodin the tube to deliver blows against the sign to secure the latter tothe support, said tube being split at the second-named end and providedwith sockets at the split portion,

and the hammer rod having a pin projecting therefrom for engagement insaid Sockets, whereby the hammer rod may be locked within the tube.

9. A sign applying tool comprising a tube for engagement at one end witha sign to hold it in position for application to a support, and a hammerrod mounted in the tube and projecting from the other end of the tubeand there provided with a handle for the manual reeiproeation of the rodin the tube to deliver blows against the sign to secure the latter tothe support, said tube being split at the second-named end and pro-Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe whereby the hammer rod may be locked l Within the tube, said tubebeing also provided with a handle having a clamp sleeve movable alongthe tube and adapted to embrace the split end of the tube and hold thelatter with the pin lodged in the Sockets for securely holding thehammer rod against withdrawal from the tube.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

E. L. BOUCHARD, MAX KREHER.

Commissioner of Patentsl Washington, 1D. C.

